Why are Peacocks Considered Symbols of the Resurrection?
Dear Father John, I was looking around the SpiritualDirection.com site and found a post from back in 2014 (Why are Holy Water Fonts at Church Doors? Why Bless Ourselves with Holy Water) in which you said that peacocks are considered signs of the Resurrection. I never knew that. Why are peacocks thought of in that way? Is it the same for peahens?... Read More

Contemplating the Triumph of Mercy
The Resurrection is a mystery of the triumph of divine mercy over human misery. When the Father raised Christ Jesus from the dead, humble humanity was not overcome, surmounted or diminished. Instead, all that is good, holy and true about this life was rescued from futility and death. Christian contemplation beholds this victory and by faith allows the splendor... Read More

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ, the Day, is Risen!
Christ is the Day!
(Sermo 53, 1-2, 4: CCL 23, 214-216 by Saint Maximus of Turin, bishop)
Christ is risen! He has burst open the gates of hell and let the dead go free; he has renewed the earth through the members of his Church now born again in baptism and has made it blossom afresh with men brought back to life. His Holy Spirit has unlocked... Read More

Raise the Crucifix to Strike Holy Terror in the Antagonist
But…Jesus isn’t on the cross anymore!
“Jesus isn’t on the cross anymore! The cross is empty!”
So what’s the deal with crucifix-wielding Catholics?
Don’t they know we worship a risen Savior?
St. Paul says that “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (cf 1 Corinthians 15:14). Without... Read More

Life of Christ (Week 15 of 27)
Hope of the Resurrection
The only reason I'm better at waiting than my five-year-old is that I have a few years under my belt.
“You're so patient,” some stranger mentioned, seeing me wrestling a toddler in one arm, a whiny kindergartner in the other, and a dramatic grade schooler off to the side.
By the grace of God, I just smiled. What I was thinking... Read More

Easter and the Resurrection
Easter is upon us! Rejoice in the triumph of Christ! On this edition of Divine Intimacy Radio, Dan and Melissa discuss Easter and the Resurrection: the glory of the Resurrection and the dramatic changes it brought about in the lives of Christ's disciples.
Topics/Questions covered in the show:
The Apostles rejoiced when they were persecuted for the sake of Christ.
Easter... Read More

The Risen Lord and the Gift of Faith
To believe that the Lord is Risen is to believe that He is present in a radical and wonderful way. His powerful presence is accessible only by faith — this is because He has ascended into heaven. Such is the substance of our hope. When we cleave to Him by faith, because His presence is real and personal, He raises us up with Him.
When Mary Magdalene calls... Read More

Resurrection Moments
My grandmother, whom I affectionately called ‘Meme’ was filled with love. I grew especially close to her since, for the last twenty years of her life, she suffered from near-blindness. I helped her with her mail, her bookkeeping, and when I was old enough to drive, I took her shopping and to Mass. Our conversations were unforgettable, and she taught me so much in those formative... Read More

On the Lord's Resurrection
An Easter Homily from Pope Saint Leo the Great
(Sermon LXXII)
I. The Cross is not only the mystery of salvation, but an example to follow
The whole of the Easter mystery, dearly-beloved, has been brought before us in the Gospel narrative, and the ears of the mind have been so reached through the ear of flesh that none of you can fail to have a picture of the events:... Read More

RELICS (Part III of III)
Editor's Note: In Part I, we took a look at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi, saw evidence of relics in the Old and New Testaments and explained the three different types of relics. In Part II, we showed how relics reiterate the Incarnation. Today, we will examine how relics reiterate the Resurrection. Here is the question we are looking at:
Dear Father John, The... Read More

Dan Burke and Melissa Elson reflect on the meditations of Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen regarding blind obedience. The post Reflecting on Blind Obedience appeared first on SpiritualDirection.com / Catholic Spiritual Direction.

Dan Burke and Melissa Elson speak with Dr. Holly Ordway about her contribution to the book "From Atheism to Catholicism" to find out what drew her to the Catholic Church. The post From Atheism to Catholicism appeared first on SpiritualDirection.com / Catholic Spiritual Direction.

Dan Burke and Melissa Elson reflect on the meditations of Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen and the meaning of true glory. The post The Meaning of True Glory appeared first on SpiritualDirection.com / Catholic Spiritual Direction.